# What optional things do you always get? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 18, 2014, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-optional-things-do-you-always-get/681621 "2014-02-18T14:46:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-optional-things-do-you-always-get/681621/1 "2014-02-18T14:46:18Z")
I’m just wondering what optional additions are good value for money, as well as curious about what people always spring for. It doesn’t have to be a separate item, it might be a deluxe version of the same thing. Things like: Insurance on rental cars? In car navigation? Upsizing your fast food meal? Extended warranties? SSDs? Exit row seats on airplanes? Late check-out? Octane 98 petrol? Soy milk in your coffee? For me, I always get pocketknives with locking blades. Normal blades seem too dangerous now. I try to get power screwdrivers with torque control. And I’m a sucker for backlit keyboards. I know extended warranties are supposed to be a money grab, but my 1 year 4 month old iPhone just developed a problem, and I’m glad I got AppleCare. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-optional-things-do-you-always-get/681621/2 "2014-02-18T14:55:26Z")
Property insurance on moving vans. I’ve had some bad luck in this area, and if I buy the insurance, it’s covered with no hassle. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-optional-things-do-you-always-get/681621/3 "2014-02-18T14:55:53Z")
Power tools. I always get a better quality than I actually need, and never regret it. Snow blower. I bought an expensive one that I used only one season . . . then decided it’s easier to pay a guy $240 to plow the driveway for an entire season. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-optional-things-do-you-always-get/681621/4 "2014-02-18T16:55:00Z")
99 flake. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-optional-things-do-you-always-get/681621/5 "2014-02-18T17:03:17Z")
Hot peppers. On anything I can. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-optional-things-do-you-always-get/681621/6 "2014-02-18T18:19:00Z")
Sprinkles on ice cream. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-optional-things-do-you-always-get/681621/7 "2014-02-18T18:22:52Z")
Cilantro and onions on my tacos. ---
**Author:** ![JacksMom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/839c29/32.png) [@JacksMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JacksMom)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-optional-things-do-you-always-get/681621/8 "2014-02-18T20:02:19Z")
Extra cheese ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-optional-things-do-you-always-get/681621/9 "2014-02-18T20:14:22Z")
Early boarding on an airplane. I’d buy it if they offered it on the Acela too. I am an impatient person and I just want to get into my seat and let the plane fill up around me. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-optional-things-do-you-always-get/681621/10 "2014-02-18T21:21:47Z")
Some restaurants offer sides and then have a few premium sides for a buck or two more and I’ll often spring for the premiums! ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-optional-things-do-you-always-get/681621/11 "2014-02-18T21:28:09Z")
leather seats on new car purchases. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-optional-things-do-you-always-get/681621/12 "2014-02-18T21:29:50Z")
Flying, I go for direct flights over ones with stops. Might cost $20-40 more, but well worth it. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-optional-things-do-you-always-get/681621/13 "2014-02-18T21:36:23Z")
> [@JacksMom](#): > > Extra cheese and side salads. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-optional-things-do-you-always-get/681621/14 "2014-02-18T21:44:33Z")
Bacon or extra bacon. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-optional-things-do-you-always-get/681621/15 "2014-02-18T22:57:54Z")
V6 and heated seats in cars. I don’t care for other bells and whistles, but those two are niiiiice. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-optional-things-do-you-always-get/681621/16 "2014-02-18T23:35:40Z")
Lemon for my iced tea. ---
**Author:** ![Stuffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-optional-things-do-you-always-get/681621/17 "2014-02-18T23:43:05Z")
> [@StusBlues](#): > > Property insurance on moving vans. I’ve had some bad luck in this area, and if I buy the insurance, it’s covered with no hassle. Ditto, also on Uhauls. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-optional-things-do-you-always-get/681621/18 "2014-02-18T23:48:29Z")
Toilet paper. I think it’s been discussed on the board what you get if you buy the 99₵ rolls. ETA: Q-Tips too, rather than generics. ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-optional-things-do-you-always-get/681621/19 "2014-02-19T03:48:48Z")
I always get nail clippers with nail collectors. I can clip my nails anywhere without the clippings going everywhere! I introduced my friend to them and she’s sold too. Speaking of nail clippers, I only get good ones after I got a Wenger one that was appallingly flimsy and had a gap between the cutting edges. ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-optional-things-do-you-always-get/681621/20 "2014-02-19T04:42:00Z")
The highest possible level of warranty for any computer I buy. I spilled soda on a Dell once and completely wrecked it–having upgraded to the 3-year warranty with accidental damage protection wound up paying for itself 4x over. I refuse to stop eating and drinking around my computer, so that’s the tax I pay for peace of mind. I also got a service plan on a $22 Sears iron once, still not sure why. The salesclerk must have been flabbergasted that anyone would be that daft. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-optional-things-do-you-always-get/681621.md?page=2)